Senior Consultant-Implementations (19744)

The Senior Implementation Consultant leads the successful delivery of complex system implementation engagements for banks and credit unions. This role directs implementations of core banking systems, digital platforms, payment solutions, and loan origination systems, with accountability for project governance, client readiness, and delivery quality.

The Senior Consultant applies advanced expertise in banking operations, project management, and business analysis to guide client decisions, coordinate cross-functional teams, and resolve complex implementation challenges. This position serves as a trusted advisor to client leaders, internal project teams, and third-party vendors while helping ensure engagements remain aligned with scope, schedule, budget, and strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mid-sized to large, complex implementation engagements and provide oversight across multiple workstreams.
• Direct joint project kickoff and governance sessions with clients and solution vendors to establish alignment on scope, decision rights, roles, milestones, and escalation paths.
• Design and facilitate discovery and future-state workshops that identify process improvements, operating impacts, dependencies, and business requirements.
• Develop, validate, and manage integrated project plans, including tasks, dependencies, timelines, resource needs, critical paths, and stakeholder commitments.
• Lead coordination with third-party vendors on interfaces, integrations, testing, conversion, readiness, and deployment activities.
• Monitor engagement performance, resource utilization, budget, quality, and milestone achievement; recommend corrective actions when results vary from plan.
• Anticipate, assess, and manage complex project risks, issues, and decisions; facilitate resolution and escalate matters that require executive action.
• Maintain accountability for project scope, schedule, budget, governance, and deliverable quality while managing client expectations.
• Review and approve implementation artifacts, including requirements, test plans, training materials, conversion strategies, readiness assessments, executive reports, and decision logs.
• Lead mock conversions, cutover planning, go-live readiness reviews, and post-implementation stabilization activities.

Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced knowledge of core banking systems, digital banking platforms, payments, loan origination systems, or related financial technology solutions.
• Strong understanding of bank and credit union operations, including deposits, lending, payments, and back-office processes.
• Demonstrated project leadership with the ability to manage complex workstreams, dependencies, resources, and stakeholder commitments.
• Advanced business analysis capabilities, including requirements definition, process mapping, operating model design, and impact assessment.
• Strong knowledge of vendor management, system integrations, testing, data conversion, and implementation governance.

Problem Solving/Analysis

• Evaluates complex client environments to identify operational constraints, delivery risks, root causes, and interdependencies.
• Develops practical, scalable, client-focused solutions to address operational, system, and organizational challenges.
• Applies structured analysis and sound judgment to resolve issues across design, testing, conversion, deployment, and stabilization.
• Evaluates trade-offs and recommends options that balance client priorities, risk, cost, timing, and implementation objectives.
• Anticipates emerging risks, establishes mitigation and contingency plans, and adjusts the implementation approach when conditions change.

Supervisory Responsibility and Autonomy

• Supervisory Responsibility: No direct reports; provides day-to-day project leadership, coaching, and mentorship to consultants, analysts, and client project resources.
• Autonomy: Operates with a high degree of independence in managing engagements, making delivery decisions within approved scope, and advising clients; escalates significant scope, financial, contractual, or strategic matters to leadership.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent)
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Proficiency with process mapping, requirements documentation, and executive reporting tools
• Strong command of implementation methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid approaches
• Advanced understanding of system integrations, testing, data conversion, cutover, and go-live readiness
• Ability to establish project governance, manage integrated plans, and communicate engagement performance to executive stakeholders

Soft Skills

• Executive presence and confidence facilitating discussions with senior client and vendor stakeholders
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team coordination skills without relying on formal authority
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication tailored to technical, operational, and executive audiences
• Sound judgment, accountability, adaptability, and composure when managing complex or high-impact issues
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and client service skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field
• 5-8 years of experience in financial services, consulting, or system implementations, including responsibility for leading complex workstreams or engagements
• Experience leading implementation activities for banks or credit unions and working directly with client stakeholders
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and project planning or collaboration platforms

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading core banking, digital banking, payments, lending, or loan origination platform implementations
• Project management certification (PMP or equivalent) or comparable implementation leadership experience
• Experience with system integrations, testing, data conversion, cutover planning, executive governance, and post-go-live stabilization

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cornerstone Advisors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, our firm complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.